Monday, December 19, 2011

Este Tiempo de Navidad

La semana pasada con la Navidad que viene He estado pensando mucho acerca de su significado verdadero. Como ya he pensado en ello llegué a una conclusión muy interesante. Tengan paciencia conmigo mientras les explico.
La razón por la que celebrar la Navidad y por qué es tan especial para nosotros, es porque es realmente acerca de las familias. No resta en absoluto desde el nacimiento milagroso y la vida de Cristo, pero esta temporada es de las familias. Permítanme explicar. Es sólo en, a través y por Cristo que tenemos la oportunidad de vivir para siempre y vivir con nuestras familias eternamente. Para mí la razón por la que amo tanto la Navidad se debe a que a través del nacimiento de Jesucristo, yo puedo vivir con mi familia por toda la eternidad. Él vino a la tierra para que todos puedan tener la oportunidad de vivir para siempre con Dios y con sus familias. Su misión era la de hacer posible que lleguemos a ser limpios y vivir con Dios y nuestra familia de nuevo. Amo a mi Salvador y me encanta mi familia. Y estoy agradecida por este tiempo que tenemos que celebrar las familias. Familias eternas.
¡Feliz Navidad!

This Christmas Season

This past week with Christmas coming I have been thinking a lot about it's true meaning. As I've thought about it I came to a pretty interesting conclusion. Bear with me as I explain.
The reason we celebrate Christmas and why it's so special to us is because it's really about families. Not to detract at all from the miraculous birth and life of Christ, but this season is about families. Let me explain. It's only in, through, and by Christ that we have the chance to live forever and live with our families eternally. For me the reason I love Christmas so much is because through the birth of Jesus Christ I can live with my family for all eternity. He came down to earth so that all may have the opportunity to live forever with God and with their families. His mission was to make it possible for us to become clean and live with God and our families again. I love my Savior and I love my family. And I'm grateful for this time that we have to celebrate families. Eternal families.
Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Every Little Thing

About two months ago we talked with a man, whom I'll call Jose, about the Plan of Salvation, the plan God has for us. As we finished up we asked if we could pray with him. He said no, so we explained to him why we pray and the importance of prayer. I asked him if he believed God answered his prayers or even heard him. He shook his head with sadness. We testified and read scripture that He does hear and answer our prayers. By the end he was okay with us praying and was grateful for the simple but fervent prayer we offered. We were pleased with how well it went and were excited to help him continue to grow in his faith in Christ. We tried many times but he was never at home.

Last Saturday we were walking down the street to visit a recent convert and Jose called out to us. I didn't recognize him, but I quickly remembered him. I was excited to meet him again. What a miracle! The Lord placed us in his path at the exact time so we could reconnect and invite him again to learn more. We invited him to church and he was excited to come. But Sunday came and went and he didn't come to church. We called him but there was no answer. It was slightly discouraging after finding him so miraculously and then him disappearing just as quickly.

But it doesn't end there. We went again to the same recent convert's house on Monday. Which seemed kind of silly at the time visiting someone we'd just seen two days in a row, but we felt we needed to visit. So we went. We knocked and to our great surprise Jose opened the door! One more miracle! He was very apologetic about not going to church. Something came up and he couldn't get away. But he invited us back for the next day. So with great anticipation we went back the following day.

Our plan was to teach one thing but as we talked with him we followed the spirit and ended up teaching him something else. As we concluded talking with him and answering his questions we invited him to be baptized. He bowed his head, looked up at us, and said, "Yes. I want to be baptized." His heartfelt and true desire was evident on his face. He agreed to be baptized at the end of the month.

I don't know if I can explain the joy that filled our souls as we walked away. We were filled with joy. We had witnessed many little miracles. Especially the one of seeing someone have a true desire to follow Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God. There is much more we have to go through to help him make that step but I have no fear or worries. The Lord is in control and knows our desires and the desires of Jose.

I am just a worker in the Lord's vineyard but oh what a glorious work it is! I'm so grateful I am a missionary and can see those little miracles. That I have the privilege of helping someone come unto Christ through baptism. To see someone gain a better and more firm faith in Christ and His atonement is the best thing ever. The church is true and we are guided by the Holy Ghost. Trust in him and you will never be lead astray. I love my Savior!